Workshop on U.S. Undergraduate Programs in Systems Engineering April 7, 2010

1. How Much Classical Engineering and Application Domain Focus Should Be in A Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering? Workshop on U.S. Undergraduate Programs in Systems Engineering April 7, 2010

2. Disclaimer Opinions expressed in the following slides and the panel discussion are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the faculty at Texas A&M nor the policy or position of the Texas A&M Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

3. What Training is Needed? How Much Classical Engineering and Application Domain Focus Should Be in A Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering? Depends, at least partly, on how you define Systems Engineering…

4. What is Systems Engineering? • Definitions of Systems Engineering on the Web: • Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering • The application of engineering to solutions of a complete problem in its full environment by systematic assembly and matching of parts in the ...www.ichnet.org/glossary.htm • is defined by ANSI/EIA-632-1999, “Processes for Engineering a System” as "An interdisciplinary approach encompassing the entire technical ...www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/tc/library/v&vsummit2009/vandv%202009%20myers.ppt • A system is a collection of entities (real or virtual) that interact to produce an objective or result. Systems engineering (SE) is a discipline to plan for and ultimately produce a system. ...www.infosectoday.com/Articles/Information_Assurance_Architecture_Foundations.htm • Related phrases:   communication systems engineeringsystem of systems engineeringcomputer assisted systems engineeringrailway systems engineeringapplied systems engineeringpower systems engineeringcommunications systems engineeringbiological systems engineeringcomputer systems engineering

5. INCOSE Definition • Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems. It focuses on defining customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle, documenting requirements, then proceeding with design synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem: • Operations • Cost & Schedule • Performance • Training & Support • Test • Disposal • Manufacturing • Systems Engineering integrates all the disciplines and specialty groups into a team effort forming a structured development process that proceeds from concept to production to operation. Systems Engineering considers both the business and the technical needs of all customers with the goal of providing a quality product that meets the user needs. • However, I conjecture that DoD, Ford, Boeing, Amgen, Baxter Healthcare, etc. all interpret this quite differently

6. Needs for SE Education • Must be Engineer first • Need “classical training” from much of common freshman and sophomore engineering content • Differentiate from business or technology programs • Difficult to be “systems engineer” as undergraduate • Need “big picture” perspective • Need “experience” with complex systems • Need to appreciate users’ needs and the difficulty anticipating, articulating, and meeting them

7. Needs for SE Education • Study of systems thinking and life-cycle sustainment concepts • Important for all engineers in the context of their discipline • Appreciation of complex interactions in systems, including human involvement • Appreciation of complex “situation” in which systems operate • Operational conditions • Environmental conditions • Government regulations • Must understand risk and uncertainty • Need courses in probability, risk analysis and assessment, decision making under uncertainty

8. Domain Specific Training • Maybe in specific, niche programs • Perhaps some options or tracks to introduce particular application domains • However each is quite different • Difficult to cover core concepts in curriculum much less have room for specialized training • My Preferred Approach • Basics of systems engineering learned in context of another discipline • More specific focus and training through graduate level education in conjunction with a certain practical experience level

9. Summary • Should students earning a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering have their program structured much as a classic engineering undergraduate? • Yes • Should they learn about systems engineering in the context of another engineering discipline such as industrial, chemical or biological engineering? • Yes • Should students learn about systems engineering in the context of a particular application domain such as finance, telecommunications, or naval weapons systems? • No

10. Current TAMU UG Program • Our goal is for our graduates to understand the systems aspects of the various complex systems they will face across a variety of industries and be able to apply the appropriate methodologies, techniques, and tools to design, analysis, operate, and control those systems. • Systems planning • Systems operations • Systems simulation • Operations Research (Systems analysis, optimization, and decision making)